By Sarah Fader
First of all, yeah I used the word “schizophrenic.” I used it because my friends who have paranoid schizophrenia identify with this word. So, I am not going to be language policed by you and told I can’t say it. Let’s get that out of the way right now. Now to the topic at hand: can online therapy help a schizophrenic person? I don’t know the answer to this question because I am not living with paranoid schizophrenia. I can say this: online therapy can be helpful to most people who have a mental illness and want help.
Online therapy might be helpful if there was video chat involved.
I talked to Michelle about this, because she is schizophrenic. She said that online therapy might be helpful if there was video chat involved. The reason for this is that when you have paranoid schizophrenia, you need to be “seen” by a doctor to determine the severity of your symptoms. If there’s no video component it’s hard to assess what’s going on and if you’re experiencing psychosis.
Online therapy can also be helpful to people with schizophrenia who are experiencing agoraphobia. The therapist or psychologist depending on whom you choose can support their client and encourage them to go outside and interact with people.
It’s important to take your medicine and see a mental health professional.
Michelle says that one of the most important things for anyone with schizophrenia or psychosis based disorders is to be on medication in conjunction with therapy. You need to manage your illness on medicine because that alleviates the symptoms. It’s important to take your medicine and see a mental health professional.
One thing to consider is extensively researching any online therapy sites you are considering. There are many of them out there and it’s important to know that the therapists you are considering have the right credentials.
There is one advantage to a schizophrenic person seeing an online therapist: you are free to tell that person whatever you’re comfortable with. Here’s a story from Michelle about when her mother tried to take her to an in-office therapist when she was in high school:
We had gone to the therapist and my mom told her all of what I considered to be personal secrets about me. My mom considered it a success, while I was incredibly angry and resentful. I tell her at home that I will never be going there ever again.
When you have paranoid schizophrenia, quite simply you are paranoid.
When you have paranoid schizophrenia, quite simply you are paranoid. So a close family member revealing your confidential information to a mental health professional feels like a violation. Regardless of your age, it hurts to have your privacy violated. In this anecdote, Michelle was a minor, yet she still had her own opinions and the ability to express herself.
Is online therapy for people who have paranoid schizophrenia?
Is online therapy for people who have paranoid schizophrenia? I suppose it’s up to the person living with the illness to decide. In any therapeutic relationship, it’s about the dynamic between the client and the therapist.
Are you schizophrenic? Tell me if you think online therapy could work for you!
